Seattle names city dump after J.P. Patches

Add this to Seattle’s list of strange things: A city dump named after a clown.

J.P. Patches, Seattle’s most famous red-nosed man in white makeup, was honored Wednesday night with a promise to add his namesake to where people take their trash.

His TV show has long been off the air, but fans will get the joke. Played by Chris Wedes, Julius Pierpont Patches lived in a shack at the city dump, of which he was the mayor. The local show aired from 1958 to 1981, entertaining thousands of Seattleites.

Wedes announced his retirement in September, making what was then his final public appearance at Fisherman’s Terminal.

On Wednesday night, Wedes made his final, final public appearance on a pledge drive for KCTS. Now 83 and diagnosed with a blood cancer, Wedes said he had already promised the appearance after his retirement. He said the KCTS spot was expected to be the last time he would be in character.

Or not.

“Hey, I could be a Frank Sinatra,” he said Wednesday. “He came back. Or Cher. They retired and, all of a sudden, they’re back.”

It was the Seattle City Council, led by Councilmember Jean Godden, that bestowed the namesake honor to J.P. But times have changed since the clown ruled the dump.

Being a place of proud recyclers and composters, Seattle has long jettisoned the word “dump” from its lexicon, and J.P.’s name will grace the future education center of the North Transfer Station in Fremont. The station’s remodel is expected to be done by 2014.

“Your J.P. Patches character, known for his wit and eccentricity, is a Seattle icon deserving of a unique and unusual honor,” says the Council’s letter, presented to Wedes on the show.

“Given J.P.’s legacy as ‘Mayor of the City Dump,’ we think this is a fitting tribute.”

Local historian Feliks Banel, a writer and producer who championed the idea, hopes osmosis will lead people to call the Fremont station the “J.P. Patches City Dump.”

“I thought, how could Seattle best honor J.P.?” he said. “It’s a very cool thing. It’s weird, but Seattle-weird.”

In case you missed it, here’s a peek at J.P.’s not-quite-final appearance from September:

J.P. Patches holds Deano Dixon, 7 months, as crowds come to see the legendary performer during his final public performance on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 at the Fall Fishermen's Festival in Ballard. The man behind the legendary clown, Chris Wedes, is hanging up the costume after decades of entertaining kids in the Pacific Northwest. less

J.P. Patches holds Deano Dixon, 7 months, as crowds come to see the legendary performer during his final public performance on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 at the Fall Fishermen's Festival in Ballard. The man ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Hundreds of fans come to see J.P. Patches' final public performance.

Hundreds of fans come to see J.P. Patches' final public performance.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Hundreds of fans crowd around J.P. Patches as he walks from the stage after his final public performance.

Hundreds of fans crowd around J.P. Patches as he walks from the stage after his final public performance.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Fans watch J.P. Patches' final public performance.

Fans watch J.P. Patches' final public performance.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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J.P. Patches takes the stage during his final public performance.

J.P. Patches takes the stage during his final public performance.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Steven Summers of Seattle holds a petition during J.P. Patches' final public performance.

Steven Summers of Seattle holds a petition during J.P. Patches' final public performance.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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J.P. Patches calls up an audience member during his final public performance.

J.P. Patches calls up an audience member during his final public performance.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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J.P. Patches leads the pledge of allegiance during his final public performance.

J.P. Patches leads the pledge of allegiance during his final public performance.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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A fan holds up a book during J.P. Patches' final public performance.

A fan holds up a book during J.P. Patches' final public performance.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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J.P. Patches speaks during his final public performance.

J.P. Patches speaks during his final public performance.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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J.P. Patches has fun with audience members during his final public performance.

J.P. Patches has fun with audience members during his final public performance.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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A young audience member watches during J.P. Patches' final public performance.

A young audience member watches during J.P. Patches' final public performance.